Train-control shoe mechanism



July 17, 1923- A. G. SHAVER TRAIN CONTROL SHOE MECHANISM Filed May 14 1921 7 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 Patented July 17, 1923.

UNITED STATESPATETOFFICE."

ARCHIBALI) e. snavnn, or cnicnoo, rumors, ASSIGNOR 'ro'rHE REGAN, sarnrrr nnvrcns oonranr, Inc, or new YORK, aooaronarron or NEW YORK. i

TRAIN-CONTROL SHOE MECHANISM.

Application filed May 14, 1921. Serial No.469,529.

Chicago, in the county of Cool; and State oftIllinois, have invented certain new .and

useful Improvements in Train-Control Shoe Mechanism, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing. 2

This invention relates'to train control shoe'mechanism adapted for use in conjunc tion with automatic train control systems to control switch members for both the train carried circuits and the roadside circu ts.

In the improved construction there is carriedin the upper portion "of a suitable box or chamber a fixed piston,v while in the lower portion is disposed a sliding cylinder, the extreme lower end of which is provided with an adjustable 'rampengaging shoe.

Carried by thecylinder'is a contact member of novel construction which will permit of the rotation of the cylinder without disturbing the electrical contacts; this rota-ting feature permitting the shoe, when engaging the ramp, to rotate about .the axisi'of the cylinder, thus presenting different wearing surfaces and, at'the same time, having a tendency to clear the ramp and shoe face of any obstruction. The ramp member is also adjustable and is mushroom sha.ped,so that in meeting any obstruction along the line it has a'greater tendency to ride over the same without breakingthe cylinder.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevatiompartly'in section, of the complete shoe.

Figure 2 is a section taken on line 22 Fig. 1, the cylinder and piston being shown in elevation.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section on line Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7, are detailed views of parts of the mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1O designates the casing having the surrounding walls 10, which constitutes a box for the main elements, the lid 10 being attached removably .in place by bolts 10".

contacting ton 11 is hollow and open at the lower end and its base 11 contains passages and ports for'dire'ct connection with the brake system. In the lower portion of the casing 10 there is disposed a cylindrical insulating bushing 12, having adjacent to the ends thereof two washers-12' of the same material to insulate the metal bushing 13 from the casing, said bushing 13 beingheld in place by the integral rim 13 at one endand the detachable Tim 1235 at the other end.

Mounted for vertical sliding movement and also rotation within bushing 13, is the cylinder 14, the upperend of which surrounds the lower end of piston 11 and is provided with the stufling box 14 *The lower end of the cylinder is provided with screw threads 14:, the purpose of which will] presently appear. while intermediate of its ends it is provided with the shoulder let",

which limits its downward movement. 'At a short distance above the shoulder 14: is. a cylindrical enlargement 15 having two projectingfianges 15" which form a recep= tacle for a removable contact ring 16 which is split and attached in place by means of screws. i The cylinder leis provided with graduated-chambers or ducts 14:", 14, and 1 1 which provide ,a. Venting-Per air-admitting chamber, should the cylinder break due'to striking, anobstruction. I

Four arms 18 are carried by a plate or support 19, these arms each havingupon their respective terminals a sleeve 18'for sliding engagement with fixed guide rods' l7,there being two of these; The support 19 is provided with spaced lugs 20, which are adapted to fit astridepof the flanges 15.

Attached to the support 19 adjacent to this point, and extended to resilientlyengagej the ring 16 aretwo contact arms 21, thus establishingelectrical connection in a most desirable manner with the cylinder, without interfering with the rotation thereof. I To the outer face of the support 19 are attached by means of bolts 22, the insulating supporting plates 23, there being attachedv to the same the two oppositely disposed parallel switch members or blades 24. i 1

' Disposed to co-operate with the blades 24: aresuitably disposed terminals. 27, 28, 29

carried for example by the bars 26 which are supported in the brackets 25 withinthe casing. The terminals can be disposed in any other desired manner according to the purpose for which they are used.

Adapted to adjustably fit upon the threaded portion 14 of the cylinder 1a is the ramp engaging or contact member 30 which is here shown as an exaggerated mushroom and with a relatively deep internally threaded socket 31, there being provided the two oppositely disposed set screws 32, or if desired, a single transverse locking bolt passing through elongated slots to permit of securing the contact member within certain limits of adjustment fixedly to the cylinder so as to be bodily moved therewith.

hen the shoe is used with air pressure brake systems, the air under pressure enter ing the hollow piston and cavities in the cylinder tends to keep the latter protruded except when the shoe is temporarily raised against such air pressure by passing over a ramp, but where vacuum is employed a spring or springs, weights or other means must be used to protrude the cylinder.

It will be seen that the ramp engaging member 30 is in electrical connection, through the cylinder 14:, flanged member and Contact ring 16, contact member 21 and through a flexible connection not shown to any of the contacts desired, (preferably 29 left). The contact plates 24 in the position illustrated bridge the contacts 27 and 28 respectively, but when the cylinder rises on a ramp further contact is first made with 29 and then the blades 24-leave the lower contacts 27, thus making and breaking certain circuits whereby the brakes are operated when needed in a manner forming no part of the present invention. The arrangement of contacts 27, 28 and 29 is thus illustrated only and the invention is not confined to any special number or arrangement of contacts.

What I claim as new is: 1

1. A ramp shoe for train control systems including a support, a fixed piston carried by the support and normally in. communication with an air brake system, a sliding cylinder mounted in the system and coop crating with the'piston, said cylinder being mounted for sliding and rotatable movement and having its lower end closed, a ramp engaging member carried by the lower end thereof, and cooperative circuit con trolling means carried by the support and by the cylinder.

2. A ramp shoe for train control systems including a support, afixed piston carried by the support and normally in communication with an air brake system, a sliding cylinder mounted in the system and coopcrating with the piston, said cylinder being mounted for sliding and rotatable movement andhaving its lower end. closed, a ramp engaging member carried by the lower end, thereof, anv annular contact member carried by the cylinder within the support, sliding switch member operably engaging the same, means for guiding the same in vertical movement, and fixed switch members the path of the slidable switch memher.

3. A ramp shoe for train control systems including a support, a fixed piston carried by the support and normally in communication with an air brake system, a sliding cylinder mounted in the system and cooperating with the piston, said cylinder being mounted for sliding and rotatable movement and having its lower end closed, a ramp engaging member carried by the lower end thereof, a grooved shoulder carried by the cylinder within the support, a movable switch member disposed in operative relation to said shoulder wherebythe shoulder is permitted to rotate without imparting movement to the switch, means for guiding the switch member for sliding movement, and fixed switch members in the path of the first switch member. I I

4. A ramp engaging shoe including a. casing having an opening in the lower portion thereof, a rotatable and longitudinally slidable cylinder closed at its lower end slidably journaledin said opening, means for limit ing the downward movement thereof, a fixed hollow piston carried in the upper end of the casing and slidably fitting the upper end of the cylinder, said casing being adapted to receive air under pressure to fill the cylinder, aramp engaging shoe detachably connected to the lowerend of the cylinder, and cooperative circuit making means carried by and in the path of the cylinder.

5. A ramp engaging shoe including a casing having an opening in the lower portion thereof, a rotatable and longitudinally slid able cylinder closed at its lower end slidably journaled in said opening, means for limiting the downward movement thereof, a fixed hollow piston. carried in the upper end of the casing and 'slidably fitting the upper end of the cylinder, said casing being adapted to receive air under pressure to fill the cylinder,'a ramp engaging shoe detachably connected to the lower end of the cylinder, an annular shoulder carried by the cylinder within the casing, a vertical slidable frame having spaced lugs to fit astride said shoulder whereby the same has vertical movement imparted thereto coincident with the movement of the cylinder, a switch member carried by the same, and fixed switch members in the path of the first mentioned switch member.

6. A ramp engaging mechanism for train control systems comprising a support, a plunger mounted in said support for slidable and rotatable movement, a ramp engaging member carried by the plunger, the said plunger being provided with an air duct running therethrough,-means for connecting said plunger and the air, ducttherein for communication with the air brake system of the train, an electrical contact member carried by said plunger and a second.

, and rotatable movement, saidplunger carrying a ramp engaging member and being provided with an air duct communicating with the air duct of the plunger casing, and cooperating electrical contacts carried by the plunger and the said support.

8. A ramp engaging mechanism for train control systems including a support, a stationary plunger casing carried thereby and provided with an air duct adapted toreceive air from anair brake system, a plunger journalled in said casing and support for slidable and rotatable movement therein, said plunger carrying a ramp engaging member and being provided with an air duct communicating'with the air duct of theplunger-casmg, an electrical contactmember mounted for sliding movement only in said support,

a second electrical contact member carried by said plunger and slidable with said first contact member and rotatable relatively thereto, and additional contact members carried by the support and cooperating with said slidable contact member.

9. A ramp engaging mechanism for train control systems comprising a support, a

fixed piston membercarried thereby, a cylinder member mounted for slidable movement on said piston member and arranged externally thereon, and cooperating circuit controlling means carried'by said support and said cylinder member.

10. A ramp engaging mechanism for train control systems comprising a support, a fixed hollow piston member carried thereby and normally in communication with an air brake system, 1 a hollow cylinder member mounted for slidable movement on said pistonmember and arranged externally thereon,

the said eylindermember-being open at one end for communication with the air brake system and being closed at its other end, and

cooperating circuit controlling means carried by the support and the said cylinder;

r In testimony whereof I afliX my signature.

AROHIBALD G. SHAVE-R. 

